Constitution

§ 1. Name – The name of the Association is the International Association for Lichenology (IAL).

§ 2. Goals – The purpose of the IAL is to promote the understanding of lichens and lichenology world-wide. To achieve this, the IAL shall: a) encourage the study of lichens, b) advocate lichenological interests in the international arena, c) stimulate communication and discussion among those interested in lichens, d) organise symposia, field meetings, conferences, etc., and e) support the conservation of lichens. The IAL is affiliated to the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS).

§ 3. Membership – Members of the IAL are those, whose dues have been paid. Any member who is more than two years in arrears in payment may be suspended by the Council.

§ 4. Power to raise Money – The IAL exists only for non-profit status. It has the power to raise money by dues or other means as approved by the Council, but only for scientific purposes, awards and the administration of the Society.

§ 5. Dues – Membership dues will be determined at the general meeting of the IAL, upon advice of the Council.

§ 6. Officers, Auditors and Nominating Committee – The elected Officers of the IAL are a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, an Editor, the organizer of the next IAL Congress, and three Council members-at-large. These officers form the Council of the IAL. The Auditor and Vice-Auditor are elected non-Council members. The Nominating Committee is composed of three elected non-Council members, and they elect a secretary among themselves. The term for Officers, Auditors and Nominating Committee is four years. The maximum period for any Council Officer, Auditor and Nominating Committee member is two consecutive terms. Council Officers, with the sole exception of the Editor, cannot serve more than one consecutive term in the same position.

§ 7. Nomination and election of Officers, Auditors and Nominating Committee – The Nominating Committee must publish a call for nominations reaching the membership at least six months prior to the general meeting. Any member of the IAL may submit nominations or be nominated. Nominations, to be valid, need the written consent of the nominees, and need to reach the Nominating Committee at least two months prior to the general meeting. Nominations from the floor at general meetings are allowed only when no nominee for a given post is elected. Elections will be made by majority vote at the IAL general meeting. Voting will take place irrespective of the number of nominees for a post.

§ 8. Duties of Officers and Auditor – The Council administers the affairs and funds of IAL and shall meet or in other ways communicate as decided by the President or at the request by Council Officers. The Council must establish an Advisory Board including a representative selection of lichenologists worldwide, with special attention to local societies, which shall assist the Council in the transfer and dissemination of information. The Council nominates two representatives of the IAL to the IUBS. The Council may designate Committees that shall manage topics of particular relevance for lichenology. The Advisory Board and the Committees will last until the next Council takes over. The President, or in his absence the Vice-President, or any member of Council designated by the President, shall preside at all meetings of IAL and the Council. The Secretary shall keep minutes of meetings, and shall conduct correspondence as requested by Council. The council nominates two representatives of IAL in the IUBS. The Treasurer, or in her/his absence the Assistant Treasurer, shall keep an account of all receipts and expenditures and have a statement presented at general meetings and as requested by Council. The Assistant Treasurer shall assist the Treasurer as requested by the Council. The Editor shall prepare the International Lichenological Newsletter, whose content and format shall be at his/her discretion subject to review and recommendation of Council. The Council may temporarily fill positions vacated between elections. If less than seven elected members remain, a new Council must be elected at an additional general meeting. To be valid, decisions of Council – held by a majority vote – require that all Council members have been informed, and that at least six of them participated. The Auditor, assisted by the Vice-Auditor, will review the financial records of the IAL and present a report to the general meeting. In her/his absence, the Vice-Auditor will act as Auditor. The Nominating Committee is responsible for presenting a list of nominations to the general meeting.

§ 9. General Meetings – The IAL shall hold its general meeting at the IAL Congress, a major international congress covering all aspects of lichenology, to be organized every fourth year. Announcements of additional meetings must reach the membership at least six months in advance. Any member can address topics for discussion to the Secretary at least four months prior to the general meeting, so that these will be disseminated to the Membership before the meeting. Additions to the agenda require a two-thirds majority of those present at the general meeting. Decisions will be taken by a majority vote. To be valid, a general meeting requires the participation of at least 10% of the membership.

§ 10. Awards – The initiation of IAL awards is decided by the general meeting. IAL award recipients are decided on by the Council. The IAL has currently the following six awards:
1) The Mason Hale Award recognising excellence in research by young lichenologists for outstanding work resulting from doctoral dissertations or similar studies.
2) The Acharius Medal recognising the life-work of distinguished lichenologists.
3) The Sylvia Sharnoff Education Award for an outstanding web page devoted to lichens.
4) The Dharani Awasthi Award for a prominent young researcher working and living in a low income country, who has completed a Ph.D. within five years prior to the submission deadline.
5) The Aino Henssen Award for a prominent researcher early in the career, who has completed a Ph.D. within five years prior to the submission deadline.
For the above awards, a call for nominations must reach the membership at least six months in advance of the next general meeting.
6) The Margalith Galun Award for outstanding student contributions at an IAL meeting (best oral and poster presentations).
These awards will be decided and presented by the Council at an IAL meeting.

§ 11. Change of Constitutional Rules – Changes in these rules may be made only upon approval by not less than two-thirds of the Members present at the general meeting. Proposals of changes must be sent to Secretary at least four months prior to the general meeting, so that they will be disseminated to the Membership before the meeting. No rule change shall be allowed which will change the non-profit status of the IAL.

§ 12. Dissolution of the IAL – A motion to dissolve the IAL must be approved by at least two-thirds of the whole Membership. If the IAL is dissolved, any funds remaining after all outstanding liabilities are discharged shall be used for scientific purposes in the field of lichenology as agreed by the last Council.

Approved at a General Meeting of the IAL at IMC 10 in Bangkok, 5 August 2014